Advice and Consent

[Minas Tirith City ZMO(#81)->Ceredir]

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Weather:            Clear

Time:               Before Dawn <05>

Season:             Spring

Date:               Orgilion - May 6, 3046

Real Time:          Wed Mar 04 14:31:11 2009

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It is before dawn on this clear day in May, and while many men are asleep, others are already up and about or have long been so. Ceredir is among the latter the Master Scout is now entering the barracks, pulling off his black gauntlets and wiping sweat from his brow, as if he has been hard at training.

[Faramir(#10683)]

Within the Card Failin, another figure stirs. Moving about, quietly gathering supplies, the form of a tall man moves with the stealth known of the men of Ithilien. As Ceredir enters, the other pauses, looking towards the doorway. Setting aside whatever he had been assembling, the figure steps forth into the dim light, revealing himself as the Captain Faramir. \"Good morn, Ceredir.\" he speaks pleasantly enough. \"How goes training?\"

\"Morning, my lord,\" Ceredir says, with a quick bow. \"Not well, I\'m afraid. My stamina is gone--from the blood loss, the healers said. It will not be until June that I am fully recovered, they tell me.\"

\"And how are you this morning, sir?\" he continues politely.

[Faramir(#10683)]

A slight scowl creases the brow of the Lord of Gondor, yet there is no animosity within his gaze. Frustration, perhaps. Or concern.

\"That is but a month away, though I understand your frustration.\" A hand raises, and is placed upon the man\'s shoulder. \"Take what time you must. There is no need to rush your recovery and risk further injury.\"

At the question of his own status, Faramir smiles, withdrawing his hand. \"I am well enough. Gathering supplies to be sent out to the ever vigilant beneath the boughs of Ithilien.\"

\"I could help you with that, sir,\" Ceredir volunteers eagerly, \"as this is a job that requires no stamina and ...I am deputy quatermaster for the company.\" He grins a bit sheepishly.

\"Yet I would beg your advice on a matter, if you will allow it?\"

[Faramir(#10683)]

A look is given the condition of Ceredir before the son of Denethor nods but once. \"Yes. You may aid. Though do not strain yourself overmuch.\" Striding towards where the supplies lie half-scattered about the table, Faramir begins once again arranging them in a delicate order, packing in the sachels available. \"What is it you require advice on, Ceredir? You know I always have an ear for the troubles of brethren.\" Another smile is granted the Master Scout.

\"Packing supplies should do me no harm,\" Ceredir grins, following the Captain to the table and packing sachels as Faramir does so. \"Likely, sir, you are aware of the circumstances of my birht and the anger it has bred in me...\" He ventures a quick glance to the Captain.

\"I have an opportunity to learn under the tutelage of one from ...from the house I cannot name. But in order to do so, I would have to leave the scouts. And I am hesitant to do that.\"

[Faramir(#10683)]

Long is the Captain of Gondor silent, allowing these words to hang in the air between them. Folding blankets, Faramir manages half a dozen before he speaks up. \"What does your heart tell you, Ceredir?\" The question is simple, though perhaps so simply answered. Yet, even so, he looks sidelong at the Master Scout who aids him.

\"I cannot say for certain,\" Ceredir shakes his head as he works on putting rolls of bandages into a sachel. \"Part of me jumps at the opportunity, and part of me loves it here and wishes to stay, because I am certain I could learn just as much, if not more, here. And I am already a Master Scout and would be back to Squire, though Captain Gurtir calls that a spurious reason. I think, though, that I want it for the chance to get that which I can never get. Which...might be a foolish choice.\"

[Faramir(#10683)]

As the first rays of sunlight leak into the barracks, Faramir nods at Ceredir\'s words. Again, silence holds tight to the conversation between the two men, and more sachels are packed. \"It is a question you must answer before you can answer that which you have asked me.\" he states. \"I will not begrudge you the opportunity to learn of your heritage. However, you must be absolutely certain this is what you wish.\" A pause in preparations, and the son of Denethor turns towards the young Master Scout. \"Until you are certain of a course, I shall not grant you leave of the company.\"

\"What certainties are there ever in life? What decision is ever made with no regrets whatsoever?\" Ceredir answers, looking at the linen bandages he holds. He looks up. \"And how am I to find the answer to such a thing?\"

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

\"Leave?\"

The voice is silent, as is its owners wont stood over yonder -- Amrundirn of the Carmayar. But there is nothing lithe about that word firm and hard, a menace writ upon his tone.

[Faramir(#10683)]

\"You must look inward.\" states the Captain plainly. \"Determine which is more important: the chance to potentially learn of your heritage, or the desire to remain within the Company of Ithilien.\" A pause, and he adds, \"The men of Dol Amroth employ a much different fighting technique. That should be something else to weigh. Should you decide to go, you should ensure you can manage their heavy armors and weapons. For if not, it will be a short-lived tenure should you enter combat with the Enemy.\"

As a third voice joins the conversation, the Lord Faramir\'s gaze shifts to Amrundirn. A nod is given the Ranger, though no words accompany allowing the Master Scout to explain for himself.

\"Yes, and a different system of..less equality on the field, I would describe it. Whereas I feel that in Ithilien, the men of the Company are brothers...even I, with my lack of any standing as it were. And I fear it will not be so should I change.\" Ceredir answers quietly, in a thoughtful voice, then turns to look toward the Ranger.

\"Lord Indilzar has been discussing the possibility of my training under him.\"

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

The Captain\'s nod is answered with one in turn but Amrundirn\'s brow bows lower, his grey glance downcast in deference for the nonce. But as it rises to Ceredir... it is not unlike his tone veiled steel would be a fitting analogy. \"Lord -Indilzar- has, eh?\"

\"We need you here.\"

\"Here? Why?\" Ceredir\'s reply is plain enough, half question, half challenge. \"Am I not just another scout, easily replaced like all the others?\"

[Faramir(#10683)]

A nod is given in response to Amrundirn\'s words, though no further words are given by the son of Denethor. Instead, he continues to pack supplies in silence, allowing the two others to converse.

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

The reply gives that there Ranger pause a pause in which his eyes but stare at Ceredir.

It is short, but a pause all the same. \"Do you think us overpopulated? And do you think the Enemy vanished that we may thus discard men so trained to vie for his hold on the Garden -- that he now indeed holds? No, Ceredir, I tell you: we are shorthanded, and no man of ours is expendable, or indeed replacable by another.\"

[Faramir(#10683)]

\"None are easily replaced, Ceredir.\" states the son of Denethor, his voice growing steely as he speaks. \"Oft, those who are replaced are our brethren who were killed beneath the boughs of Ithilien. Do not speak such folly, for it makes light of their sacrifice.\"

To Amrundirn, Faramir responds also. \"I have given him leave to determine his own path. Do not attempt to sway him. Though you speak truth, and we need every man we can get, especially brave and competent men such as Ceredir, I will not stand in the way of him learning of his family. If I did, he would resent not only me, but the entire Company, and as such, become sloppy in combat.\"

\"No,\" Ceredir replies to both men, \"I will not be pressured into making a decision I do not feel in my heart and thus resent the Company or jeopardize those in it by giving less than my all for it. But I am torn, and it does help to hear the Ranger\'s point of view.\"

\"As for my family, Lord Captain...\" he shakes his head. \"I cannot ever hope to claim a family, save for my half brother Thingalad. And I hear he is now a Lieutenant of the Carmayar, having sworn to Lord Phallanath?\"

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

\"As you say, Captain,\" Amrundirn answers though far from meekly. \"But should he walk down that path, I would have nothing further to say to him and so too would many of your men. I deem it prudent he know this.\"

To Ceredir, he now says naught, if a brief glance goes his way as he speaks of Thingalad and the family business concerning him.

[Faramir(#10683)]

Turning to Ceredir, the Captain looks hard upon the man. Finally, he says his last. \"Choose wisely, Ceredir. The choice is to take a chance to seek a family you admit you will have little chance of knowing, or remaining within the Company who is family to you already. Brother to brother. In life and in death.\" No further words are spoken, nor is the question regarding Thingalad answered. To Amrundirn, Faramir adds, \"See that these supplies are ready to be shipped to the men within the hour.\"

Turning, the son of Denethor strides towards the exit, taking his leave.

\"My lord, than you\" Ceredir says as Faramir departs. He glances toward Amrundirn, then renews his efforts to pack the supplies, waiting until after the Captain has left to address the Ranger.

\"And would you say, sir, that the lack of a house to support me does not factor into my ability to rise in the Company? For..in Dol Amroth, I am nearly certain it would limit me.\"

\"And,\" Ceredir continues, \"nothing to do with me? Because I left the Company? But what of Captain Gurtir? Do you not speak to him?\"

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

Bowing once more, Amrundirn\'s brow is creased -- his frown faint, but present all the same. \"Yes Captain.\"

His glance lingers on Denethor\'s second son, for a time.

He does not even look to Ceredir as he answers, his mien darkening, and some of the veil slides off of his voice then: \"The realm has known Knights of humble birth, as it has known Rangers of Morthond vale with no ties to Ithilien The Captain values ability, not blood lines -- if advancement is of such importance.\" His tone turns a shade more firm: \"The Captain Gurtir is of little relevance here dare not compare him to these matters of your own concern -- there are no similarities.\"

\"You disappoint me.\"

\"Disappoint?\" The scout protests in some surprise. \"I was but being honest. And...the Captain had _asked_ Gurtir to instruct me when he was still a Ranger with us. I admire and look up to the man now for the same reasons I did when he was a Ranger. Should that change?\"

\"But I brought up the question to Captain Faramir because I am torn. He is right...this has become my family, and I don\'t think I can leave it to pursue a dream that will fail.\"

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

\"No. It should not. He left us for duty. What you consider should rack your thoughts and dreams your very essence,\" Amrundirn says, and his voice is unchanged, and his gaze remain settled in the Captain\'s wake, \"For what you consider, I see as little short of treason.\"

\"I have said all I mean to say.\"

The Carmayar turns his back on Ceredir then, and strides toward the entrance.

\"Wait...\" Ceredir drops what he is doing with the supplies and takes a step toward the door.

\"Sir, I did not intend it to be seen that way. Far from it. I am a bastard by birth, and struggle to find a connection with the family that should have been mine. That is all.\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

Into the barracks comes Curugil Gildring accompanied by a guard. Curugil looks about him as they march forward saying, \"How marvelous and very sensible. A trapdoor *to* the kitchen. How much easier it is to transport needed items!\"

The guardsman laughs and says, \"I can leave you here Lord. I daresay you can find the captain about, or at least one of the officers to help you.\"

Curugil turns and bows, \"I thank you good soldier!\"

He turns back into the heart of Card Failin and walks slowly and very observantly.

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

\"By turning your back on the one you have earned?\" The Ranger halts for the moment. \"You would be a bastard not by birth alone, but choice also.\"

\"How did you think it would be percieved?\"

\"But nay. I must follow the Captain\'s command. I will not influence you any further.\" Amrundirn glances fleetingly at Curugil over yonder as he falls silent turning but his head so he may look at Ceredir finally.

Curugil reaches into his pocket and takes out a glass-like object. He begins to examine one of the black beams bracing the wall with it.

He mutters, \"Fascinating...\"

\"I understand the Captain\'s wish that I must not be influenced...but...I am glad that you said this to me. I..\" Ceredir is hesitant, yet speaks after a moment\'s pause. \"I am so used to being without a family that it had not occurred to me I might have one already.\" He looks up briefly, for he has been looking down, ashamed, through this discourse. \"Thank you.\"

The curiousity of the visiting Lord, though, cannot be ignored, and turning, Ceredir looks to see who it is that is so fascinated and what captures their attention so.

\"Lord Curugil,\" he recognizes the man. \"What brings you here and so early?\"

Curugil glances up and stuffs the glass into his pocket. He says, \"You may wish to have one of the engineers looking at the beams. I fear you might have a structural malevolence. A fairly evil and diabolical infestation. Why there I saw it. A drone! They are breeding. I must send one of my assistants up here for samples.\"

\"Yet to answer your query Master Scout,\" he says. \"I am in need of military advice, particularly from those knowledgeable about what I believe the common term is... \'ranged weapons.\'\"

[Amrundirn(#29212)]

The Ranger\'s unflagging gaze remains on Ceredir all the while the disapproval writ on his countenance unchanging... Yet, perhaps it softens somewhat as he looks away his anwser a grunt, or a snort, or something in between.

\"Lord Curugil, eh? You shall have the Master Scout\'s compliance for as long as he remains here, I am sure,\" he tells Curugil, with not a glance at Ceredir, \'ere resuming his walk to the exit.

\"Good day.\"

Curugil bows to Amrundirn as he departs.

\"Good day, sir,\" Ceredir gets in as the Ranger leaves. However brief the Ranger\'s change of expression, Ceredir must be used to such and watching for it carefully, for there is a matching flicker of relief in the Master Scout\'s face in answer.

\"Infestation?\" He stares up at the beams of the ceiling, unconcerned. \"I do not doubt it. As for ranged weapons...bow and arrow?\" He picks up a blanket at the table filled with supplies, which is next to him, and starts folding it. \"I have supplies that must be ready to be sent out within the hour. If you wish to speak of ranged weapons, then help me pack them in these satchels and crates.\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"Of course,\" says Curugil. He siezes some of the arrows and begins to stuff them the wrong way into the satchels saying, \"Yes. I am interested in knowing of what types and varieties of arrows that are used by the fighting men. I of course know these common arrows, but are there any variations to them?\"

\"Careful!\" Ceredir says, dropping the blanket hastily and reaching an arm out to try to grab Curugil\'s. \"Let me do that. You...fold blankets,\" he frowns, exasperated. \"You\'ll loosens or tear the feathers that way and then they will not fly straight.\"

\"There are types, of course. Different types of arrowheads, depending on what you face against the enemy. For beasts, you need broadheads--something that will rip into their flesh and, if you miss the heart, will cause them to bleed to death. For mail armor, you need arrowheads that will pierce the armor. But more so, you need the strength to pull the bow so that there is enough force behind it to pierce the armor. And that..is difficult.\"

\"Why? Why do you need to know this?\"

[Curugil(#10108)] \"Oh dear me!\" cries Curugil. \"To think that military operations are so delicate in nature. Of such exactitude!\"

\"I shall therefore abase myself to your greater wisdom then,\" says Curugil siezing a blanket. \"For I do know how to fold!\"

\"Very interesting,\" says Curugil. \"I do not suppose that there are arrows of a more.... explosive nature? Something that perhaps unleashes demonic and fiery fury?\"

\"Good.\" Ceredir barely conceals his smile. \"Arrows must be packed right or they are no good at all to the archer. So I am glad to let you use your skills in folding blankets.\"

\"Explosive nature?\" The Master Scout\'s brows furrow. \"Fire arrows, you mean? Tell me..what is your purpose with such things. The Knights of Dol Amroth do not rely on bow and arrow to win the field. And if I knew your purpose, I might be able to better advise you.\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"What are the knights of Dol Amroth to me,\" asks Curugil. \"I am a man of lore. For my part it is part of my work to help with the improvement of our current weaponry. I came across a treatise that was penned by Tar-Minastir that spoke of the fire arrows of Numenor. I am hoping to learn more of these hellish darts so that perhaps we may be able to improve upon our current models.\"

Ceredir stows the last of the arrows, then quickly begins packing the remaining supplies on the table. \"What did that work say, then? We tie tows soaked in oil or resin just behind the arrowheads, light that, and shoot. And often as not, singe our forearms in the process. Or else, we dip the arrows in pitch and light them that way. But they don\'t fly as true, so the target has to be big and easy to hit. And the orcs, of course, can spot the flames we use to fire our arrows, so in Ithilien, it is not always the tactic of choice.\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"Oh nothing quite like that,\" comments Curugil folding his last blanket. \"Tell me, what is the typical range of one of your arrows? A thousand feet?\"

\"A thousand feet?! By the Valar, no!\" Ceredir laughs. \"Two hundred at best for a longbow, sir.\"

[Curugil(#10108)] The Lord Gildring arches a brow, \"Two hundred you say? Fascinating.\"

There is a pause before Curugil speaks again, \"Tell me then, is there aught in this arsenal that can hurl weaponry so far as that?\"

\"Not that I know of, sir...well, there is on ships. Barsaphad had weaponry for firing arrows from ships. But I do not know the range,\" Ceredir says.

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"I have much to ponder then,\" replies Curugil, \"I suppose none of our weaponry has a blasting substance to it?\"

A silent shake of the head. Ceredir packs up the last of the sachels, the table now free of supplies. \"Such a thing exists?\"

\"What of the attack against you the other day? Any news?\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"Maybe,\" says Curugil carefully. \"Or maybe it once did and no longer does. The Men of Old had mighty weapons that are beyond the ken of us, lesser men.\"

\"As to that,\" says Curugil. \"I have heard nothing, though the guard did question me concerning the matter. I do not think the attack was against me however but perhaps a general, if not brutal admonishment to the \'Lords of Gondor.\' I have no doubt that the malefactor will be apprehended by Lord Hurin of the Keys and perhaps tossed from Mindolluin. I walk in perfect safety and comfort.\"

\"And the attackers left some sort of note with the weapon they threw? That claimed responsibility for the Black Hand? What would such a group want against the Lords of Gondor, and why? Is it the common folk uprising?\" Ceredir asks, focusing on the second part of the man\'s response.

The first answer, though, does not go unheeded. \"Once had...what type of weapons? There are records of such things? Do our enemies now possess them?\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"That is a concern of mine,\" says Curugil. \"Yet I deem that this Blackhand is nothing. Probably some malcontents in the barn I suppose -- or even rivals of the proprietors of Drover\'s Arms.\"

\"I hope they do not!\" says Curugil. \"I do not think so though. It must be mythical.\"

\"They certainly achieved their aim, if it was to hamper business there. Though I doubt that the Citadel Guard will dismiss it so readily,\" Ceredir shrugs. \"As for the rest, I share your feelings on it. We at least have not seen such weapons, nor do I ever wish to.\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"I would not mind if they were aimed at the Land of Shadow,\" says Curugil. \"Yet I thank you for your time. Will you be attending the banquet?\"

\"Nor I,\" Ceredir nods. \"Not to seem ungracious but I am not certain duty can spare me for the night when the duty is in the form of the Quartermaster demanding my services.\" He tilts his head slightly toward the pile of supplies they have packed. \"There is more of this, to be certain, and I am but a scout, technically, and commonly born. Such feasts are not for those of my ilk.\"

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"A man of Numenor is no commoner,\" says Curugil with sudden seriousness and a curious gleam in his eye. \"You shall come on my own invitation. Not least for the aid you gave to me here today. What is more, you shall be my personal guest.\"

\"Sir, I...\" Words spill out as Ceredir starts to protest, but politeness prevents him from going further. \"I thank you, then, and of course under those circumstances, I will attend,\" he says, though he looks rather uncomfortable as he does so.

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"Excellent,\" says Curugil. \"I look forward to showing the Houses of Lore to you. Walk with grace.\"

He turns and departs from the Card Failin.

\"And you,\" Ceredir says, looking after the man and then shaking his head. He turns back to the table of supplies.